To boost performance in the 2018/2019 academic session, the Education District IV of the Ministry of Education, Lagos State has organised a two-day workshop for about 500 principals, vice principals, quality assurance officers and some teachers on modern teaching techniques.
Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary of the district, Mrs Funmilayo Okeowo, said at the training held at New Era Girls’ Secondary School, Surulere that it would boost teachers’ capacity to deliver and improve learning outcomes of the pupils.
“It is a training on ‘Transformed Practice Fit-for-purpose in the 21st century’ aimed at strengthening capacity of people with the responsibility of taking care of pupils in our schools. We, as a district, are setting the pace to ensure quality teaching and more retentive lesson delivery for improved learning outcome in all our schools,” she said.
The first day of the training, which was for principals and vice-principals, was facilitated by Mrs Abosede Awodumila, a retired Principal from Education District VI.
Mrs Awodumila lamented that most public school teachers were not following modern teaching trends. She said if teachers could change their teaching techniques, the pupils would achieve better results.
She said: “Being a teacher today has become more challenging. Teachers and principals must stay informed on trends, policies, politics and priorities.
“Collaboration is the core competence of a 21st century principal. Teachers and principals alike must deviate from using the old method in teaching because the world has improved from its former state.”
The facilitator said the true measurement of teachers’competence was in how they were able to help low-achieving pupils improve.
“The competence of a teacher lies in the low attaining students. Teachers should adopt the MELT strategy (Model for Effective Learning and Teaching) and avoid AIDS (Acute Integrity Deficiency Syndrome) to produce students who have creativity and cross-cultural competence; can think critically, understand and communicate ideas and can work well with others.
“Teachers must show love and acceptance, especially when the pupils make mistakes, help students build their self-esteem and must be genuinely committed to improve learning outcome,” she said.